Yakuza 3 is featured once again in the latest issue of Famitsu. This week, the magazine offers a look at the game's mini games and the new Okinawan play area.

The Yakuza series is known for offering players a variety of mini games apart from the main story. For part 3, Sega appears to be working on some robust games, including a golf game set on a golf course, billiards in a bar, and a fishing game on the coast. For the billiards game, you can select from a variety of rules and play against cabaret girls. For the fishing game, you use food items for bait. Fish that you procure can be used directly as items or sold for money.
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PS3Center writes:

The latest issue of Famitsu Weekly has confirmed that the latest entry into Sega's popular Yakuza series will be hitting shelves in Japan on February 26, 2009. Yakuza 3 will debut at a price of 7980 yen.
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ps3 fanboy write: Famitsu (translation via IGN) has unveiled in its latest issue details regarding the battle system of Yakuza 3. One of the major improvements is seamless transitions into fights. Another note-worthy addition is the foes you encounter may decide to run away from you (and vice versa, if you are chicken) -- you now have to option to engage in a "chase battle" to pursuit the enemy. This "chase battle" involves keeping your enemy in sight with your mini map and avoiding any obstacles that may appear in your path.

A "tag tournament mode" was also shown in the gaming magazine's pages. Your character enters a fighting arena where you must team up with a partner (whether this is a CPU partner or something else isn't clear) to unleash some co-op attacks on your enemies.

The last iteration of the Yakuza franchise on the PS3 sold fairly well over in Japan. Unfortunately, it hasn't received a stateside release (yet) -- here's to hoping Sega will bring both Yakuza games over to the Western market.
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Joystiq writes: "We're still recovering from our trip to TGS (in fact, we're still here in Tokyo). However, we thought you'd appreciate this list of new games which will definitely be supporting Trophies when they release on the PS3. Big first-party and third-party titles can be found on this list:

* Demon's Soul
* Derby Time Online
* Gomibako
* Quantum Theory
* Resident Evil 5
* Street Fighter IV
* White Knight Chronicles
* Yakuza 3

Unfortunately, the status of other big PS3 games, like Final Fantasy XIII, is still TBD."
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Spaziogames write:After a small travel in medieval Japan with Yakuza Kenzan, the series back to "home" and is ready to continue the events completed in the second episode. Vi mostriamo le prime tre immagini di Yakuza 3, ambientato due anni dopo il prequel. We feature the first three images of Yakuza 3, set two years after the prequel. In arrivo nel 2009 in Giappone in esclusiva su Playstation 3. Coming in 2009 in Japan exclusively on Playstation 3.
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Suntory, Matsuya, and Don Quixoti were cool and all, but Sega's bringing out the big guns when it comes to real world tie-ups for Ryu ga Gotoku 3 (Yakuza 3). The company announced today a tie-up with Japanese fashion magazine Koakuma Ageha that will see the top models from the publication appear as hostesses in the upcoming sequel's host club sequences.
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Sega is still keeping quiet on Yakuza 3, the true PS3 sequel in the Yakuza series, but today it did share one bit of news regarding the voice acting staff for the Japanese version of the game. the company revealed that Jouji Takahashi and Tatsuya Fujiwara will be joining the cast, playing as yet undisclosed roles.
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Kotaku: A third, proper Yakuza game? For the PS3? Exciting stuff. So let's go over a few of the game's finer details. While we already know the game will be an immediate sequel to the second, featuring the same characters and the same storyline, what we didn't know was that the game's going to be taking a pleasant break from the streets of faux-Tokyo. While the game will still be based around Kamurocho, it'll be adding a "second city": island getaway Okinawa (or, at least, a fictional take on Okinawa).
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In the latest issue of Famitsu, it was announced that SEGA's toasted Toshihiro Nagoshi has been working on Ryu ga Gotoku 3 (Yakuza 3). This isn't to be confused with Edo-era PS3 exclusive Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan!, which is actually the third Yakuza game in the franchise, but not actually Yakuza 3. Confused? According to the article, Kenzan! was a spin-off, and this newly announced game is actually the third one in the series, m'kay. Work began on the game commenced after development on Kenzan! finished, and the story picks up where Yakuza 2 left off. Well, that makes sense at least.

According to Neogaf post the game have a release date set for spring Spring 2009 and it's exclusive for PS3.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=323238
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This is far from the official confirmation like Sega of Europe sent out, but there is a fair chance Yakuza 2 will come out in North America too. Possibly in September. Gamestop and Gamefly updated their respective databases and Yakuza 2 is in both of them.
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VGB writes: What are the best-selling games in America, Japan, and Europe (UK) this week? Thanks to Amazon online sales data here are the games that are the most popular now.

This week's charts, with data taken from March 6th, 2008, sees Army of Two debuting to top sales in North America, while Japan finds sales leadership in the latest in Sega's Yakuza franchise, Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan (Yakuza 3).
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First Day Sales : The numbers in () shows the shipments info.

Yakuza 3 (PS3) : about 113k

Metroid Prime 3 (Wii) : about 20k

Everybody's Common Sense TV (Wii) : about 5.0k (about 60~70k?)

Guitar Hero 3 (PS3, PS2) : about 3k

Family Jockey (Wii) : about 2.5k
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A new image of the Yakuza 3 Playstation 3 bundle has been posted on Famitsu.com. The bundle comes packed with the Silver 40GB Playstation 3, a SixAxis controller, and Yakuza 3.
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IGN reports: "Collectors of all things Sega are going to need to book a flight to Japan for this one. Sega Japan has announced a promotional campaign for its two big upcoming PlayStation 3 titles. To help push Yakuza 3 and Valkyrie of the Battlefield, the company will distribute a promotional set to those who purchase product from the Sega Direct e-commerce site, or those who sample the games at an upcoming demo event.

The set, titled "Mite Yonde Wakaru PS3 Sakitori Kit," includes a DVD and booklet. The booklet contains details on the two games in full color. As for the DVD, when played in a standard DVD player, it offers trailers of the two games. Play it in your PC or PS3, however, and you'll get to view HD versions of the trailers and gain access to some wallpapers".
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Kotaku, Thu Jan 17 2008, by Brian Ashcraft

What better way to promote an Edo period game with women in S&M gear? Noodles! Yep, starting next month, PS3 exclusive Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (aka Yakuza 3) instant udon noodles will go on sale in Japan for ¥210 (aka US $1.96) a cup. The Ryu ga Gotoku games always get the best promotions. Heck, the first Ryu ga Gotoku held an pre-game event in an actual hostess bar!

Original Source: Ryu ga Udon (Dengeki Online)
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8 Jan, 2008 We know we shouldn't wish our lives away or anything, but after watching the latest Yakuza 3 movie to be posted on the game's Japanese site, it's kind of hard not to. The 17th Century setting looks lush and the sword-focused combat elegantly brutal. And it's got a sexy little mini-game that is sure to catch the eye of any gamer that appreciates pretty ladies. Check out the footage below for yourself (the lady-gazing starts at 1.40). We're not sure women in ancient Japan wore ... » Read More

There are 2 demos up for Sega's playstation 3 exclusive Yazuka 3 in the Japanese Store.
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A playable demo of Yakuza 3, the latest (PS3-exclusive) edition of Sega's Japanese gangster-themed brawler will be hitting the Japanese PSN as soon as this month.

The demo is expected to arrive on PSN "mid-January", according to "wholesale" sources, coutesy of Google translations of GF (GameFront).
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Jan 2, 2008 A playable demo of Yakuza 3, the latest (PS3-exclusive) edition of Sega's Japanese gangster-themed brawler will be hitting the Japanese PSN as soon as this month, reports suggest. After two games set in the glitzy lights of present day Tokyo, the third game takes the series back in time to the 17th century, with samurai running around with swords, slicing faces off and stuff, as you do. Sounds awesome. The demo is expected to arrive on PSN "mid-January," according to "wholesale" ... » Read More

Yakuza 3 Demo Making It's Way On Japanese PSN Soon
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